Breadcrumb trail

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. It is about improving the standard of living by protecting human health, conserving the environment, using resources efficiently and advancing long-term economic competitiveness. It requires the integration of environmental, economic and social priorities into policies and programs and requires action at all levels--citizens, industry, and governments.

Federal Sustainable Development

Passing the Federal Sustainable Development Act in 2008 signaled a change in how the Government of Canada would fulfill its commitment to sustainable development. The Act called for a comprehensive approach representing all of government through a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) that is updated every three years. This approach, currently in its third cycle, presents Government of Canada sustainable development priorities, establishes goals and targets, and highlights government actions over the next three years. The 2016–2019 FSDS includes federal leadership on climate change, the environment-related 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, measurable and ambitious targets, and the role that partners play.

What's new

The 2016–2019 FSDS was tabled in Parliament October 6, 2016. It includes 13 aspirational goals for a more sustainable Canada.

A draft of the Strategy was released for public consultation February through June 2016. You can see a summary of what we heard from Canadians and what we did with your input in the Consultation Synthesis Report.